January 15, 2010

Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran is saying that before he had surgery on his knee this week, he got the okay from Mets GM Omar Minaya. He says via his agent Scott Boras that he spoke to Minaya on Tuesday, and that Minaya “did not ask me to wait, or to get another doctor’s opinion. He just wished me well.” He also said his doctor, Richard Steadman, “consulted with the Mets’ doctor — Dr. Altchek — about my knee. Dr. Altchek agreed with Dr. Steadman’s diagnosis that I needed surgery, and said he would relay his approval to Mets management.”

Beltran says he is “totally surprised by the reaction” to his surgery, referring to assistant GM John Ricco’s statement that “there is an issue regarding the process that was followed regarding the surgery,” and that the Mets were “disappointed” with Beltran’s choice.

Subway Squawkers says this reflects a long-standing, under-cautious medical approach on the team that “allowed Mike DeJean to pitch with a broken leg” in 2004 and other poor decisions that led to Mets playing hurt and worsening their injuries. “Based on what has currently been made public,” they say, “it is hard to criticize Beltran for bypassing the troubled Mets’ medical staff and doing what he feels he needs to do to get back to full strength as soon as possible.”

The Mets do seem to hurt a lot of players; at one point last year they had 13 men on the DL, and it is suggested that Jose Reyes’ diagnosis in 2009 was “botched,” leading to a lengthy absence.